Arsenal vs London City Lionesses: Have Renee Slegers’ side lost the fear factor of playing at the Emirates Stadium? | Football News

When Arsenal don’t win at the Emirates Stadium, it’s a big deal. But after four attempts, Renee Slegers’ side are still yet to win at home in the Women’s Super League. That’s a crisis.

The lack of home wins has cut the Gunners adrift from the WSL title race. But more worryingly, the message is getting round the league that Arsenal are not as invincible as before in their 60,000-seater stadium.

“Many players have said it’s one of the hardest places to go to in the WSL,” said Nikita Parris to Sky Sports’ Pitch to Pod show.

“And at the moment, teams are taking points off them at home. Teams feel like when they go there, they have a chance.

“At times (in the past), you go to the Emirates, they suffocate you. It’s so different. Now teams they can see they can get a counter attack that builds a bit of momentum and you’re thinking: ‘if one of these go in….’. And at times they have been going in.

“In games, we give ourselves a chance – whereas in previous times Arsenal have never allowed that.”

These comments were put to Arsenal captain Kim Little at the club’s training ground. The response is defiant.

“That’s obviously a reflection of these results at the start of this season,” she tells Sky Sports. “But I think historically at the Emirates, we’re hard to play against. It’s our place.

“That doesn’t disappear overnight. We’ve not had the results we want there, we know we’re capable of it. And we want to do that in our next game.”

Lo and behold, Parris and her London City Lionesses team are next up at the Emirates this weekend, live on Sky Sports. And it’s a game that puts Arsenal’s season very much at a crossroads.

With the WSL title seemingly out of their grasp on current form, Arsenal will look to muster a top-three finish for a Champions League spot – but London City are threatening to snatch that from them.

Should Arsenal win on Sunday, they would be breathing down the necks of the WSL’s big-spending surprise package. Defeat, however, would open up a nine-point gap between Arsenal and London City.

In just a 26-game season, that’s a huge mountain to climb – especially when up against a team in form.

Arsenal have shown resilience this week to beat Liverpool, then claim a draw at Barcelona. But can they turn their confidence away from home into a first Emirates win this season?

Why have Arsenal struggled so much at home?

If Arsenal players have been listening to Parris’ comments, then her words should be put up on the wall of the dressing room ahead of Sunday’s match. But the Gunners have to do more than just motivate themselves to a crucial home win.

There are tactical elements to this slump in form. After all, head coach Slegers agrees with Parris’ analysis.

“I think the fact that one team gets success the way they do it at the Emirates has built belief into other teams doing similar things and stopping us and frustrating us,” said Slegers last week.

“There’s a piece of that belief building in opposition as well. That’s what we’ve created ourselves, which we have to manage.”

But there is one area where Slegers disagrees with Parris’ claims. Teams still fear Arsenal at home, otherwise why would they set up so deep?

“What I see when teams come to the Emirates is they come to the Emirates to stop us,” she added. “So I think that’s a sign of fear for me.

“But they’ve also seen that there’s opportunities to go out on one or two breaks and getting a goal against us. So that’s definitely something we need to change.”

Little gives a bit more insight into the Arsenal players’ mindset about playing at home. “I think players set up on low blocks,” she says. “They want to defend and then play on the counter more often, which I suppose is in a way a show of respect to us in our previous seasons.

“We’ve obviously taken a little dip in that sense of who we are there, but we’re working hard and doing all we can to make sure we change those draws into wins, and to be more resourceful.”

And there are many ways in which Arsenal can become more resourceful. Despite sitting in sixth place and 12 points off the top of the table, they rank second for possession and number of shots taken.

And despite all that pressure, there are not enough Arsenal players are contributing to their attack. Seven out of their last eight goals in all competitions have been scored by Alessia Russo.

They have the third-worst shooting accuracy record in the division this season, plus the lowest shot conversion rate out of any team. That is what gives opponents the belief that Arsenal can be stopped.

“We’ve had really dominant displays but got caught on the counter and gone down a goal, which isn’t ideal but ultimately that happens.” says Little.

“When we play at the Emirates, it’s about atmosphere, they’re incredible fans, they’re supporting us, an incredible arena. And we need to make sure we use that, that we connect, and we’re all doing this together.

“Alongside that, obviously there are the more tactical elements, how we can get to the point of the fine details what small things we just need to improve on, or improve the quality of one. So that those chances or the opportunities we’re creating are turning into goals.”

Little’s rallying cry to Arsenal

While Arsenal have struggled at home, Little is keen to point out in their last three home matches – they have fought back from behind to salvage draws. While there are fears about Arsenal’s season, there is also fight.

“We’re passionate, we invest a lot into what we do every day on a daily basis – as players, as staff, as a broader club, as supporters,” says the Arsenal captain.

“So yeah, it does hurt and we expect more from ourselves. But also, sometimes things don’t always go as you planned, or the way that you want them to in life – and there are those ebbs and flows.

“So I think how we respond and how we move forward is what says the most about us, and that’s what we’re trying to do from within.

“And when I look at that and when I look at us and what we’re trying to do to get through this patch at the start of the season – which is not what we expect of ourselves here at Arsenal, I’m proud of that.

“We’re moving forward, we’re taking steps, but yeah, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

And as for London City Lionesses? “The season’s long, we’ll see what happens.”

Can Arsenal make it ‘ugly and hard’ for London City?

For all of Arsenal’s woes this season, they are still unbeaten at home in the WSL for over two years.

The last time they lost at home came in September 2024, when Arsenal lost 2-1 to Chelsea. It was Jonas Eidevall’s final game in charge, before Slegers took over the ship.

Arsenal have stuck with Slegers despite this early season disappointment. Could a rare home defeat spell the end of her time in charge?

“It’s difficult for them you know,” added Parris about Arsenal. “For me, that’s where Arsenal shine. At the Emirates is where they are so dominant.

“That’s got to be a place where teams are coming and thinking: ‘Not today. We’re not getting a performance there. It’s going to be ugly and hard.”

The gauntlet has been laid. Arsenal have to make this game “ugly and hard” for London City Lionesses.